buy a MIG welder or farm out the work?

[dcs13]

I would pull the liner out and clean it before buying a new one. I've used berrymans to clean mine before. Unless the welder has a ton of use, it should be fine. Sometimes the feed adjustment will cause the wire to not feed correct.
024 is pretty fine. That's good for sheet metal.
and go join here:

http://weldingweb.com/

they're pretty hardcore if you ask a really stupid question, so lurk a bit.

[Tremor14]

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=dallas%20welding%20gas

you'll be looking to spend $35-45 to fill that bottle.

[bird_dog0347]

So the Praxair location in Lewisville should have what I need tomorrow but they were out of 75/25 gas today. So today I decided to pick up a roll of .030 flux core and a 1/8 steel bar to just practice on since I had a decent .030 tip laying around I figured why not? This is the first and only times in my life I've ever tried to weld anything, and I think by the 5th try it had good penetration and a somewhat decent bead for flux core. Clearly I still need a ton more practice... Maybe after the kids go to bed I'll try a few more and keep practicing but overall I'm happy so far and think I'll only get better with gas/solid wire.

[dsrtuckteezy]

stacked dimes!

[bird_dog0347]

stacked dimes!

I only stack dimes on cowskin rugs man...

[Tremor14]

one thing i can tell right off.. is where you are starting. you need to relax a minute and watch the pool... this is where i was saying stick welding will teach you a lot. another thing.. that works for me at least is to not look at the arc, but rather behind it.. that is the puddle (dimes) you are forming.. everything in front (or on top depending how you hold your head) is still just liquid.